(Photo from www.abc.net.au/100 years/ with thanks to the owner).The Labor government of Australia under PM Kevin Rudd has done another milestone in Australian history. After signing the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change in December last year, the Prime Minister, in behalf of the Australian Government and Parliament, said today "I'm sorry," to the Lost Generations.
Addressing the House of Representatives this morning, 13 February 2008, in Canberra, Mr Rudd said the Parliament apologised for laws and policies which had "inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians."
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry," he said.
"To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
"And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry," he said.
"To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
"And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."
Sa pagtanggap ng bagong pamahalaan sa maling patakaran ng mga nagdaang gobyerno, sana ay maging hudyat na ito ng bagong pananaw sa mga naunang tao o tinatawag na "aborigines" ng Australya. At sana ay sumunod na rin ang iba pang bansa na humingi ng paumanhin sa mga lahing kanilang niyurakan ang pagkatao at dangal.
